Buying Advice Help me find a tractor to manage my 40 wooded acres

[foreman Etexas]

Your pictures are a lot better than what's on web,now that you pointed them out I see them on theirs just had to look harder. Kubotas are going to fade when left outside,mine hasn't spent much time just left outside but the plastic is fading. As for the uh oh's it's pretty easy to get a limb especially with a grapple in places it shouldn't be. If your going to be clearing under brush and such get ready cause scratches and oh oh's are going to happen,how bad depends on how fast you see it and get stopped.
Anyways by the looks of your pictures it's not been one those pampered garage setters,it's a tractor and they used it like one lol. Truthfully I would probably pass on it,that's just me if spending that amount of money I would be looking for little more cared for had a light work life machine,if it's bent or broke I would like the honors

 

[aarolar]

I'm gonna say pass too

 

[AllenArmory]

It has 236 hours on it. I didn't see any grease either, although I wasn't quite sure what to look for. The dealer showed me how the main pivot pin for the loader was nice and tight with no egg shape to it (whatever that means).

 

[foreman Etexas]

I'm sure they washed it and doesn't look like mine but you can see about the regular greasing what it leaves,even if they grease it freshly when you work the loader it will been seen. Yes I know it's time for me too grease mine. You can see what my fenders look like,it's has almost 1,000hrs

 

[varmint]

Well, based on your photos, it ain't a slam-dunk winner. It might be fine, and at 236 hours, it probably is fine, but whoever had it didn't do right with the grease gun. Any service records?

Some fading, some dings are part of a working tractor's life that wasn't a barn queen, if that makes sense, but at least now you have a real start. The egg shape he was referring to is simply out-of-round wear that comes from a persistent lack of regular greasing. I have seen loader pins where there was a 1/16" of daylight where it was oval. Too bad, as it looked pretty good in the ad photos! At least whoever is selling it isn't trying to hide stuff- most sellers would have gone around with a grease gun!

 

[fxrupr]

https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/grd/5444442341.html

Dallas craigslist 2/24/2016 That machine is in Mt Pleasant over by Sulphur Springs. You could rent a Uhaul trailer to get it home.

To be clear, I have nothing to do with the Craigslist tractor just saw it on there. I do have one like it.
We got our B7500HST FEL new in 2000. I took it to the Dealer exactly once since new and would never go back. Over priced and lousy service. The tractor is mostly well designed but they are leaning toward soft pot-metal for major castings which reduces strength and durability. I have 550 hrs on it and have dug a full basement under my house with it. We use it regularly on the 100 acres we have near Lake Whitney. I have a 4 foot shredder that is great clearing fence lines but the tractor is under powered for mowing large fields of high weeds. The radiator is not well designed and clogs up with chaff causing over heating. The machine works very well with the home built mechanical grapple I designed (see other post). Where the smaller tractor with HST shines is maneuverability and short turning radius. If you are planning on pulling large plows or cultivators you would need horsepower and weight.
I bought a 1968 Massey Ferguson 1100 for $4000 which is 90 HP and pulls a 14 foot disc. The 1974 ancient articulated 8x8 JD 8430 we got for $3000 is 200 hp and pulls a 10 yard dirt pan.
Both those tractors were mechanics specials but my point is that new is not necessarily better. Find something which has been used but well cared for. I would recommend a smaller tractor 20-30 hp with FEL, box scraper and brush hog. 4x4 is mandatory!. Also I like a manually engaged PTO clutch. The smaller John Deeres and probably other brands have an electric PTO clutch that is very hard on the drive train of your attachments. The B7500 has a manually engaged PTO clutch.
Something else. The heavier the 3point attachment you have on the back, the stabler the machine will be. Consider buying a set of duals for whatever you get, for added stability. Less maneuverable but less tippy. Happy looking. Good Luck.

Circa 2001 Kubota B7500 holding flood debris with homemade grapple from clean up last week.

 

[aarolar]

That machine is not even in the ballpark of what he needs.

 

[jeff9366]

Some of the Grand L's in this era had a problem with an internal seal inside the HST pump I believe... The tractor needs to be split open to fix it. My buddies L3540 has his fail at about 250-300 hrs if I remember correctly. I know that some other models had the issue also. Luckily his was covered under warranty, but this one wouldn't be.

A good reason to buy KTAC insurance on this Kubota at time of purchase. From my experience with one KTAC claim repair to each of two Kubota tractors, KTAC is very easy to deal with and not difficult about paying for repairs. The repairing dealer's input as to how/why damage occurred is probably important. Dealers know that their payment from KTAC will be prompt.

A cosmetically 'low' tractor is not a bad type to learn on if it is mechanically reliable. In terms of design and assembly the Grand L's are very reliable when they ship from the factory in Japan. All Grand L's have very quiet engines.

TBN surveys indicate average residential tractor use is around 80 hours per year.

The ad in Post #106 has the engine hours at 395. It is a bit odd if you found the hours to be 236 on inspection. In either case, if the hours are correct, the 2009 tractor is lightly used.

Sum up the negatives you have in your mind and make an offer for what you consider to be a fair price.

 

[TSO]

A good reason to buy KTAC insurance on this Kubota at time of purchase.

TBN surveys indicate average residential tractor use is around 80 hours per year.

KTAC is not a warranty, they do not cover mechanical failures, including this one...

 

[2ndhalf]

It has 236 hours on it. I didn't see any grease either, although I wasn't quite sure what to look for. The dealer showed me how the main pivot pin for the loader was nice and tight with no egg shape to it (whatever that means).

Grease or not, your not going to hurt that tractor in 236 hours unless your running it without oil. If it had 2036hrs with no grease, different story.

I would make a comment to them about the grease and cosmetics just to get their bottome dollar and buy it. It ain't hurt!